Search - Eternal Tears Of Sorrow :: Before the Bleeding Sun

This is insane

Matt Stoessel | Tolland, CT USA | 06/14/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"for those who know EToS, take their previous stuff and combine it with the Shade Empire / Ram-Zet sound. the way the music SOUNDS is somehow a lot different, yet EToS is still EToS. they've just gotten more agressive. there's no songs that are just THERE like a few songs on Virgin & a Whore had. don't get me wrong - I LOVE Chaotic Beauty and Virgin and a Whore. those are 2 albums I'd take with me if I could only take 10 albums with me to a desert island.



onto THIS album. don't let the guest musicians influence you. buy this if you like gothic or death metal. fans of Insomnium or Omnium Gatherum will probably find this pretty enjoyable.



solos on this album have gotten to be more traditional of the melodic death metal sound, specifically early on in the album. but, songs like Sinister Rain and Angelheart/Ravenheart (which btw inspired a new screename on AIM for me - I like it that much) are original, slower, epic-style songs that EToS has mastered. they are NOT like The River Flows Frozen or Bride of the Crimson Sea - those 2 songs are ballads; these 2 on Before the Bleeding Sun aren't.



vocals remain unchanged, which without that constant, I don't know if I'd be able to accept so many changes. the lyrics are just like previous material; Sweet Lilith of My Dreams (opener) is exactly like something I would have expected to hear on their previous albums.



I won't be surprised if this creeps up into the Finland Top 40 sometime. though short, this album will NOT bore you. a lot of albums will have you wishing for more great songs once you're halfway through; this album CONTINUES to deliver amazing songs all throughout.



this band is the Norther of gothic death metal. fans of any good euro metal will find this very enjoyable. 'nuff said."

Their best album yet!

Squash 'N' Squeak | The Darkest Regions of Outer Space | 06/01/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It seemed that ETOS would never record again after announcing their break-up after AVAAW. It would have been a shame if they permanently broke up, really. They produce some of the finest melodic death metal out there, with soaring melodies, gorgeous symphonic elements, and highly poetic lyrics. Not to mention that they are all extremely talented musicians. Their latest album, Before the Bleeding Sun, is arguably their album yet, which is saying a lot considering how great Chaotic Beauty and A Virgin And A W**** were.



The opening track, Sweet Lilith of My Dreams, is kind of what you'd expect from an ETOS opener - a foreboding, melancholic opener, with a sad guitar riff and calm keyboards, until it rips open huge epic keyboard melodies and guitars, and an extremely catchy chorus. This album actually marks a huge shift in direction from their previous outings. Of course, they've never done the same record twice from what I've heard. Chaotic Beauty is aggressive and symphonic, while AVAAW was a little slower and melancholic. It had much more sadness and depression that CB. Now, BTBS has this very epic flavor to it thats really hard to describe. I think it's a combination of the frequent use of female vocals and the diverse keyboard sounds and solos. It also has a considerably catchier sound than previous albums - I could hear Sweet Lilith of My dreams and Red Dawn Rising being played on a metal radio station. Female vocals are very frequent throughout the album and are extremely beautiful, especially the vocal solo on Sinister Rain. Altti also uses his clean singing voice more on this album, and it sounds great. This album also contains ETOS' first epic - Angelheart/Ravenheart, clocking in at over 8 minutes. It's the most "epic" sounding song on the album, with wonderul female vocals in the chorus and beautiful piano melodies. Again, this album has this grandiose, epic flavor that's really hard to explain. It's also easily their most diverse album yet.



Is this album more commercial sounding than previous records? Well, yes, actually. But that's only because it's more accessible than their other efforts. ETOS have NOT sold out. They're still the same amazing band they always were and this record broadens their horizons. I still can't stop listening to it and it's HIGHLY recommended. And I can't wait for their next album, which will be out in early 2009."

Blown away!!

Squash 'N' Squeak | 01/30/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Incredible album here people. If you're into Norther, Skyfire, Kalmah, this is for you, melodic/ death metal to rip your face off. There's a lot of ambience in every song, amounts of keyboards full of arrengements put this album unique in their category. Great guitars with good solos."